The use of a digital video camera in the classroom allows teachers to film students' simulations, skits, speeches, or performances of any kind and have them available for students to view afterward. The viewing of their performances, though there is potential for embarassment and/or humor, allows students to note areas of strength as well as areas that need improvement for reflection and continued learning. Excellent performances may be uploaded to a site such as TeacherTube.com to share the success with others.
Resources needed by school/Estimated Cost
No additional cost if the school already owns video cameras that teachers may sign out for use. If a camera needs to be purchased, cost can be estimated at $100-$300.
TeacherTube.com allows students to see samples of student work that teachers have posted, such as a poetry project based on Shakespeare's Sonnet #18 with images and music along with the student's original audio. This site can give teachers ideas for projects to assign as well as providing students with examples of successful completed projects. TeacherTube takes teacher collaboration from schoolwide to nationwide; students benefit from the increased interaction with a diverse body of other students and their work.
Rationale: Mrnussbaum.com is a website filled with quality educational games for every subject area. Some of the math games on decimals and fractions seem especially useful according to Amy Bowllan, a blogger for School Library Journal online.
Resources needed by school/Estimated Cost
Mrnussbaum.com is free to use. An $18 per year membership is available that offers more advanced services.
Educational Challenge(s)/How One of Technologies Deals with Challenge(s):
ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS
Mrnussbaum.com's games teach concepts such as fractions using interactive images along with words. Some games are even available to be played in Spanish, such as Tony Fraction's Pizza Shop. English language learners can benefit from this combination of their native language (when available), pictures to which they can relate, and new English words they are learning. Mrnussbaum.com also has many games at the elementary level in case students are below grade level when they enter their new school.
Technology 1: Digital video camera
[Image Source: http://www.advancedproducts-inc.com/smart/images/fundamentals.jpg]
Technology 2: TeacherTube.com
Technology 3: Mrnussbaum.com
[Image Source: http://www.mrnussbaum.com/]
Educational Challenge(s)/How One of Technologies Deals with Challenge(s):
ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS
Resources:
Bowllan, A. (2006, February 15). Linking to some yum-sum-fun . Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/blog/620000062/post/1120002712.html